Rehab, patience and hardwork, if possible never surgery

Cleveland Indians closer Borowski made a crucial choice with shoulder
- Thursday, September 06, 2007, Cleveland Plainsdealer

Minneapolis- Joe Borowski's right shoulder will probably never be 100 percent again.

"There's a torn something in there," the Indians closer said.

In 2004, when Borowski pitched for the Cubs and strained his shoulder, the doctors gave him two options - rehabilitation or surgery. There was a catch, there usually is with a pitcher's shoulder.

"He said if you rehab, it'll give you a chance to pitch again," Borowski said. "He said if you have surgery, you'll never come back. When they talk about putting screws in your shoulder, you're not coming back."

What course of action did Borowski take?

Tuesday night, he saved his 40th game for the Indians in a 7-5 victory over the Twins in 11 innings. He's the fifth Tribe pitcher to save 40 or more games in a season.

Jose Mesa is the franchise leader with 46 in 1995. Bob Wickman had 45 in 2005, Doug Jones 43 in 1990 and Mike Jackson 40 in 1998.

"It's very satisfying," Borowski said. "To tell you the truth, I didn't know if I'd ever be in this situation. When I was with the Cubs, I thought I might have a chance. Then I hurt my shoulder. I didn't know if I'd ever pitch again."

Said manager Eric Wedge: "Joe has been a huge part of our success. He's strong and consistent on and off the field."

Borowski, to get back to this point, trained like never before.

"I always worked out, but never like the last three years," he said. "Instead of taking two months off during the off-season, I take one week. But that's all right because I like it."

The Indians feel the same way about Borowski.

Patience:
The roles were reversed on Rafael Betancourt in the 10th inning Tuesday night.

The Twins had runners on first and second with two out. Catcher Michael Redmond, on the 10th pitch of his at-bat against Betancourt, injured the middle finger on his left hand. The debate to take him out or let him continue the at-bat lasted almost five minutes.

Betancourt, who usually makes hitters wait for him with his deliberate delivery, made a couple of throws to catcher Victor Martinez to stay loose. Finally, Joe Mauer, who didn't play because of a strained left hamstring, pinch-hit for Redmond with the count full.

It took one pitch for Betancourt to strike him out. Redmond was charged with the strikeout.

"I didn't expect to see Mauer in that situation," Betancourt said. "But I told myself, I just needed to make one more pitch."